As England-Scotland fixtures go, this was threatening to be one remembered with greater affection north of the border until that moment when Rickie Lambert announced his arrival on the international scene with a goal that seemed to belong to a different era.
Lambert had been on the pitch only three minutes when he rose, in the style of a modern-day Nat Lofthouse, to score with the arching, powerful header that completely changed the emphasis on a night when Roy Hodgson's team had, at times, exhausted the patience of their home crowd. "Fairytale" is an over-used word in football but there is certainly something enchanting about the Lambert story, rejected as a teenager at Liverpool and then playing at, among others, Blackpool, Rochdale, Stockport and Bristol Rovers.
Hit the post
The Southampton striker, who also struck a post late on, was being serenaded by the Wembley crowd before the end and should probably brace himself for some Lambert-mania over the coming days but, amid the eulogies, it should not overlook the deficiencies that were evident in another stodgy England performance.
They were behind twice, first to James Morrison’s 11th-minute strike and then Kenny Miller’s effort early in the second half. England responded with goals of their own from Theo Walcott and Daniel Welbeck and, on the balance of play, probably deserved the victory. On the flip-side, they could conceivably have lost because of their various shortcomings in defence. They also have a goalkeeper, Joe Hart, who is a danger to his own team on nights like these.
To put it into context, Scotland's starting XI featured seven English-based players but not one from a team that finished in the top half of the Premier League last season. Their substitutes featured two players from League One clubs and Miller, who earns his crust these days with Vancouver Whitecaps. Whatever the emotions and history surrounding this fixture, England always knew that anything but a fairly straightforward victory would be a difficult one to explain away.
Went behind
The manner in which they went behind was a calamity from Hart's point of view. The only possible mitigation was that Morrison's shot flew through a small gap in the cluster of England players – Steven Gerrard, Gary Cahill and Tom Cleverley – who had gone, unconvincingly, to block the shot. Hart, all the same, will be aghast when he sees the replays of how it struck his gloves then skidded off his knees and into the net.
England had started well and Jack Wilshere was prominently involved right from the start, playing with a licence to break forward, quickly showing the fluidity in his passing and movement that has been missed during his run of injuries. Gerrard had a slightly deeper role while Wilshere and Cleverley interchanged positions in the space behind Wayne Rooney. At least Hodgson is willing to veer away from the methodical 4-4-2 that prompted Gary Lineker’s observation about “a step back to the dark ages” after the 1-1 draw against Republic of Ireland in May.
Yet the moment everyone will remember came from Frank Lampard’s corner. The run, the movement, the timing of the leap - it was perfect. Lambert makes an unlikely hero - but a hero, all the same.
